Digital printing machine

Abstract

A digital printing machine includes at least one print head for inkjet printing, a drum for transporting printing material, and a spittoon for collecting ink coming from the print head. The drum has a mounting for the spittoon. The spittoon includes a support and an absorber fixed thereto. The absorber is quasi flush with the outer circumference of the drum, and the support and the absorber together form a replaceable disposable unit. A spittoon for use in a digital printing machine is also provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A digital printing machine, comprising:
 at least one print head for inkjet printing; 
 a spittoon for collecting ink coming from said at least one print head; and 
 a drum for transporting printing material, said drum having a mounting for said spittoon and said drum having an outer circumference; 
 said mounting having a slide rod for moving said spittoon, said slide rod extending in a direction parallel to said spittoon when said spittoon is inserted in said mounting; 
 said spittoon including a support and an absorber disposed on said support, said absorber being quasi flush with said outer circumference of said drum, and said support and said absorber together forming a replaceable disposable unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The digital printing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said support has a housing formed as a U-shaped profile bar with a bottom and side walls, said side walls having ends connected to said bottom and free ends. 
     
     
       3. The digital printing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein said mounting has hooks with a rib-shaped structure, and said free ends of said side walls are in contact with said hooks when said spittoon is inserted in said mounting. 
     
     
       4. The digital printing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting uses an eccentric shaft, said slide rod, or an adjustable clamping element for clamping said spittoon. 
     
     
       5. The digital printing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting has a spring for pressing said slide rod against said support when clamping said spittoon. 
     
     
       6. The digital printing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said slide rod has control cams for adjusting said slide rod in a direction perpendicular to said spittoon. 
     
     
       7. The digital printing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said drum is a sheet-transporting drum for transporting a sheet as the printing material. 
     
     
       8. The digital printing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said sheet-transporting drum has a cylinder gap; 
 said sheet-transporting drum has a gripper system disposed in said cylinder gap for clamping and holding the sheet; and 
 said mounting and said spittoon are disposed in said cylinder gap along with said gripper system. 
 
     
     
       9. The digital printing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said slide rod is configured to be pulled by an operator causing said slide rod to push said spittoon far enough out of said mounting for the operator to grasp said spittoon and pull said spittoon completely out of said mounting by hand.